Helina Metaferia: By Way of Revolution

(SCENE) Metrospace and the MSU Department of Art, Art History, present By Way of Revolution – the solo exhibition features the work of MSU Artist-in-Residence: Critical Race Studies Helina Metaferia.

By Way of Revolution is an interdisciplinary exhibition that utilizes the mediums of collage, installation, video, performance, participation, and social engagement to address the inherited histories of protest that inform contemporary social movements. As a 2018-2019 Artist-in-Residence: Critical Race Studies at Michigan State University, Metaferia developed a body of work by collaborating with female descendants of prominent historical black activists; with MSU students, faculty, and staff who identify as women of color; with MSU Libraries Special Collections; with MSU’s Broad Art Museum exhibitions; and with members of the greater Michigan community to develop art objects and experiences that are meant to inspire social change and new directions for our collective future. Considered a “living exhibition,” the project will continue to evolve over its seven week installment, with an active schedule of programs and a participatory installation that expands overtime.

Program:

Artist LectureWednesday, February 20, 7pm @ MSU Broad Art Museum
Artist Helina Metaferia will discuss the core themes, research, and creation of By Way of Revolution. She will give an overview of her artistic practice as an interdisciplinary artist, and how community building and storytelling has served as the premise for her practice.

Performance: “The Now”Wednesday, March 27, 7pm @ MSU Broad Art Museum
Artist Helina Metaferia will create a performance that engages the related themes in both her solo exhibition at (SCENE) Metrospace Gallery, By Way of Revolution, with the exhibition If Only We Could Dream Together, an exhibition curated by Associate Curator Carla Acevedo-Yates at the MSU Broad Art Museum. The performance considers our constructed identities as Americans, our complex relationships to historical pasts, and our visions for a sustainable future.

Community, student, and faculty organization-led programs:

Keys To Success: The Black Book Creation Hosted by the Creators of the MSU Black Book Saturday, February 16, 2pm to 4pm @ (SCENE) Metrospace Gallery The MSU Black Book is a welcome guide created by and for black students on campus, inspired by the historic Green Book. The founders of the MSU Black Book will lead an open discussion panel that discusses the importance of guidance, unity, and collaboration as fundamental components of success. They will also discuss the creation of the MSU Black Book. To view the MSU Black Book, please visit: http://bit.ly/MSUBlackBook

Four Directions Healing Wellness WorkshopHosted by the Women of Color InitiativesSunday February 24 and Sunday March 17, 3pm-5pm @ (SCENE) Metrospace Gallery
As womxn of color we hail from indigenous tribes which have all suffered oppression, rape, genocide, marginalization and erasure. This movement and ritual-based workshop will help participants explore the impact of those wounds in our day-to-day lives, how to honor them and foster healing in a positive way and how to create intentional tribe and ritual in our immediate community. The issues reside in our tissues. This workshop is designed to provide participants tools to implement healing practices for body, mind, spirit to survive, heal and thrive in today’s world.

Black Student Union Monthly MeetingHosted by Black Student UnionTuesday, March 19, 6pm-8pm @ SCENE Metrospace Gallery
The Black Student Alliance’s March General Assembly meeting will be a conversation on the topic of “Colorism.” We will discuss definitions of colorism and explore the implications of it that are associated with the African diaspora. Our goal is to share with the community what happens as a result of the division associated with colorism and uncover ways we can combat such division.

Harriet’s Apothecary Healing RetreatHosted by Sister CircleFriday, March 22, 5pm-7pm @ (SCENE) Metrospace Gallery
This retreat style event is hosted by Sister Circle and will be conducted by the group Harriet’s Apothecary, who are based in New York City. The event will include mindfulness meditation and a resistance circle. We will explore self-care practices that offer the community tangible tools to deepen our individual and collective healing skills, and to create individualized self-care plans and practices.

By Way of Revolution Performance WorkshopHosted by Women of Color Embodied Knowledge Forum and Artist Helina MetaferiaSaturday, March 23, @ Erickson Kiva Hall
This workshop, lead by artist Helina Metaferia during the Women of Color Embodied Knowledge Forum, will investigate the role of performance in our everyday lives. The artist will lead participants through a series of writing and performance exercises based on histories of social change movements.

Dream Big: Step Into Power Hosted by Black Lives Matter Michigan Sunday, March 24, 11am-2pm @ SCENE Metrospace Gallery Black Lives Matter Michigan invites you to a day of celebrating Black Love, Black Joy, and Black Political Power. We will break bread and decide what we want for ourselves and our families with the loving support of Rukia Lumumba from Jackson, MS (Peoples’ Advocacy Institute, LumumbaForMayor.com, Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project). For information contact angela@oneloveglobal.org

This exhibition was made possible thanks to collaborations with many others. The performance participants were Alyssa Briones, Tyler Collier, Ashera Douglass, Melani Douglass, Jade Gallant, Ayannah Gregory, Tama Hamilton-Wray, Kamya Harrison, Olivia Furman, Azya Moore, Olivia Moses, Leonora Paula, Kristin Denise Rowe, Diondra Straiton, and Paula Whaley. The partnering student, faculty, and community organizations are Black Lives Matter of Michigan, Black Student Union, MSU Blackbook, Sister Circle, Women of Color Embodied Knowledge Forum, and Women of Color Initiatives.

By Way of Revolution is organized by (SCENE) Metrospace at Michigan State University. Support for this exhibition is provided by the MSU Federal Credit Union, the MSU College of Arts & Letters, MSU Department of Art, Art History, and Design, the MSU Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, MSU Libary Special Collections, Fountainhead Residency and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Alumni Traveling Grant.

www.art.msu.edu